Fill box



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,770

J. B. DAVIS FILL BOX Filed Jan. 17, 1927 INV NTOR.

' fi/M ATTORNEYS.

. Patented Aug. 14, i928.

UNITED STATES 1,680,770 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. DAVIS, 01 SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GILBERT 80 BARKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CDRPO- RATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILL BOX.

Application filed January 17, 1927. Serial No. 161,632.

This invention relates to improvementsin so-called fill boxes for use in connection with the filling pipes of storage tanks, such as those used for storing gasoline, 011s and the like.

Such boxes are attached to the upper end of the fill pipe and are usually set into the ground. An outer cover is provided, which when removed, allows access to a threaded nipple adapted for connection with a filling hose, such as that of a tank wagon or the like, for example. This nipple 1s provlded with a cap and both this cap and the cover are customarily sealed, as by gaskets, to provide a double check against ingress of water into the fill pipe of the storage tank.

The general object of this invention is to provide improved means for locking the cap, through which access is had to the fill pipe, against removal by unauthorized persons from the nipple to which it is attached.

More particularly, it is an ob ect of the invention to provide means for the stated purpose which are not only simple 1111 0011- struction and inexpensive to manufacture but also simple and easy to operate and nevertheless effective for the desired purpose.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which F ig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a fill box embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a small scale diagrammatical view showing one use for the invention.

Referring to these drawings; the watertight fill box of this invention is adapted for use in connection with the filling pipes of storage tanks, such for example as those used for the storage of gasoline, oils and the like. The fill box, designated as an entirety by reference letter F in Fig. 4, is adapted to be secured to the upper end of the fill pipe I of a storage tank T. Usually the fill box is sunk into the ground, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the upper face thereof lies flush with the surface of the ground.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the fill box proper consists of a body 5 which may be a casting and is preferably of circular cross section. This body is provided with a tapped opening to receive the threaded upper end of fill pipe P and usually although not necessarily, such opening leads vertically downwardly through the bottom face of the body as shown. The upper and larger end of this body is provided with a tapped opening to receive the threaded portion 6 of a circular cover plate 7 and above this tapped portion is provided with a counterbored portion to receive the flange 8 of the cover plate. The

latter is thus set into the body 5 so that its upper face lies flush with the upper face of the body. Between the shoulder 9, formed by the described counterboring of the body, and flange 8 is a gasket 10, which serves to seal the joint between the cover and its body and prevent water from entering the fill box. The cover plate may have a recess of polygonal cross section in its upper face to receive a wrench, whereby the cover may be conveniently applied to or removed from the fill box.

Intermediate its upper and lower ends,

body 5 is provided with a horizontally disposed partition wall 12 which closes off all,

access from one end of the body to the other except for, and by way of, a central opening 13. The latter is formed in a double ended nipple, one end 14 of which is threaded into a central tapped hole in partition 12.

Intermediate its ends this nipple. is provided with a flange 15, whereby it maybe turned, and this flange is tightly seated against the upper face of partition 12. The upper threaded end 15 of the nipple is adapted for connection to the filling hose,

such as that of a tank wagon for example. The filling opening 13, however, is normally closed by a cap 17 which threads on to the part 16 of the nipple and also serves to clamp a gasket 18 between its lower end and the flange 15.

For the purpose of locking cap 17 against removal by unauthorized persons, the folloving arrangement is provided. A post 20,

of rectangular cross section, is secured to stud 23 is connected to post 20 by an integral part 22 also of rectangular cross sectional shape but of less length than the part 20. Such part 22 fits into a rectangular opening 24 formed in a locking plate 25, being substantially equal in length to the width of said opening and substantially equal in height to the thickness of plate 25. The latter is thus slidably engaged with the post and adapted to be moved radially in or out with respect to ca 17, limited in such movements by the confines of slot 24. This looking plate has a right angularly turned end 26 which upstands from the plate in parallel relation with one broad face of post 20. The opening 24 extends to this upturned end so that the latter can be moved into abutment, or substantially so, with post 24. An opening 27 is provided in the end 26 to register with opening 21 and receive a padlock, such as that indicated at L in Fig. 2, whereby the upturned end 26 and post 20 may be held against any but a limited degree of relative movement. \Vhen the parts are thus locked together, the outer end of plate 25 is projected beyond the peripheral wall of cap 17 into underlyin relation with an annular flange 28 provided on the interior peripheral wall of body 5. The locked pa'rts cannot be separated far enough to draw the outer end of the locking plate inwardly out of the described underlying relation with flange 28. As a consequence, removal of cap 17 is effectually prevented because although it may be turned to a certain extent, plate 25 will abut flange 28 and positively prevent the turning of the cap to an extent sufiicient to permit removal thereof.

When tank T is to be filled, cover 7 is removed with a suitable wrench and the padlock L, which holds parts 20 and 26 in close relation, is removed. By using the upturned end 26 of locking plate 25 as a handle, this plate is drawn inwardly as far as permitted by the confines of slot 24 which is enough to withdraw the outer end of plate 25 from underlying relation with flange 28. The cap 17 may then be removed with a. suitable wrench leaving nipple 16 free for attachment to the filling hose. After the filling operation, the hose is removed from nipple 16 and cap 17 screwed onto the same until gasket 15 is tightly pressed against flange 15. This forms one seal against the entrance of water into fill pipe P. The slide 25 is then projected into locking position and padlocked to post 20. Then cover 7 is applied and by reason of the flange 8 thereof pressing against gasket 10, a second seal is provided against the entrance of water to the fill pipe.

Thus, I have provided an improved watertight fill box for the purpose described with improved means for locking the fill pipe cap against removal by unauthorized persons.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred for illus trative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is:

1. A fill box, comprising, a hollow body open at its upper end and provided with a passage adapted for connection at one end to a fill pipe, a cover for closing said open end, a threaded nipple connected to the hollow body and disposed within the same below said 'cover, said nipple forming the other terminus of said passage and adapted for connection to a filling hosg, a cap threaded on said nipple to close the filling opening atlorded thereby, an annular flange provided on said body and projecting inwardly therefrom in a plane between said cap and cover, leaving an opening through which said cap may be removed, a locking member slidably mounted on said cap and adapted to be projected outwardly beyond the periphery thereof into underlying relation with said flange to prevent the cap from being lifted through said opening, and means whereby said member may be locked to said cap in its projected position.

2. A fill box, comprising, a hollow body open at its upper end and provided with a passage adapted for connection at one end to a fill pipe, a cover for closing said open end, a threaded nipple connected to the hollow body and disposed within the same below said cover, said nipple forming the other terminus of said passage and adapted for connection to a filling hose, a cap threaded on said nipple to close the filling opening atforded thereby, an annular flange provided on said body and projecting inwardly therefrom in a plane between said cap and cover, leaving an opening through which said ca may be removed, a post fixed to and upstan ing from said cap, a locking member radially slidable on the upper face of said cap and provided with a. slot, said member adapted to be moved outwardly beyond the periphery of said cap into underlying relation witi said flange, said post extending through said slot and serving to hold said member against the face of the cap and to guide and limit the sliding movements of said member, said member provided with an upturned end by means of which it may be moved and which is adapted to lie adjacent said post when the member is projected outwardly, and registering openings provided in said post and upturned end to receive a padlock, whereby said locking member may be locked in outwardly pro ected position to prevent removal of said cap.

In testimony whereof I have aflixe'd my signature.

JOHN B. DAVIS. 

